Method and system of heating



Jan 8, 3929. 1,698,5 6

L. L. RANSOM METHOD AND SYSTEM OF HEATING Filed Feb. 17, 1927 INVENTORLew/s L. fiazrsvm,

Patented Jan. 8, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LEWIS L. RANSOM,.OF JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY.-

' METHOD AND SYSTEM or HEATING.

Application filed February 17, 1927. Serial No. 168,880.

This invention" relates to he'atingsystems.

amount of energy used to heat the water, and

also in the temperature to'which the hot water is heated. Furthermore,the systems must be made of much greater capacity than would benecessary for the average loads. This, of course, involves greatexpense.

This invention has for its salient objectto provide a heating system soconstructed and so controlled that the necessary and required amount ofhot water will'be always available at a minimum cost.

Another object of the invention is to provide a system so controlledthat the system will use only the amount of heat needed to meetrequirements regardless of the variations in the requirements. Anotherobject of the invention is to provide a heating system so constructedand arranged that the necessary supply'of water at a predetermined andconstant temperature will be available at all times. i

Another object of'the invention is. to simplify the constructionandarrangement of the system'and to provide a system that can be easily,and readily installed at low cost.

Another object of the invention is to provide a' system that willoperate continuously without attention and without such derangement ofparts as accompanies intricate and more complex systems andarrangements.

Further objects of the invention will appear from the followingspecification taken in connection with the drawings, which form a partof this application, and in which Fig. l is a diagrammatic viewillustrating a system constructed'in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation on an enlarged scale showing a portionof the intake pipe for the reservoir or tank;

Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation on an en larged scale showing thethermostatic control for the motor and water heater; and

Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation on an on larged scale showing thepressure control device for the motor circuit and heater.

Fig. 5 is a detail sectional elevation illustrating theconstruction ofone of the valves.

The invention briefly described comprises a.reservoir or tank adaptedtoreceive a supply of water'orother liquid tobe heated from the pressuremains. The liquid is introduced at the lower portion of the tank orreservoir and 1s also conducted through a pump or other suitable meansto a heater and from the heater is introduced into the reservoir or tankat the upper portion thereof. The hot water I or liquid is withdrawnfrom .the upper portion of the reservoir.

The water is introduced into the tank from the pressure main through adifiuser and in such a manner that the water inthe reservoir will not beagitated or disturbed by the incoming liquid. By introducing and 1withdrawing the liquid in the manner just described, the hot water willbe disposed in the upper portion of the tank and thecold water in thelower portion and there will be a more or less definite line ofseparation between the hot and cold water. If the hot water is placed inthe tank faster than it is withdrawn therefrom, the line of demarcationbetween the hot and cold waterwill be lowered. v i

Thermostatic control means may be provided to operate in such a mannerthat when there is suflicienthot water in the tank to reach the controlmeans and effect the operation thereof. this control means will open themotor circuit for driving the pump and shut down the heat supply for theheater. Thereafter when the cold water level or line of demarcationbetween the coldand hot water rises, the thermostatic control means willoperate to close the motor circuit, start the pump and 22 located asshown in Fig. 1 within the up difiuser '12. The difi'user portion of theinmain and by gradingtheopenings 13, an even flow of water or otherliquid into the reservoir is provided for. The pipe 15 is connected tothe intake ofa pump 18 of any suitable construction, the pump outletbeing connected by a pipe 19 to a heater 20 of any suitableconstruction. The hot water is conducted from the heater through a pipe21 to.a difl'user pipe per portion of the. tank or reservoir 10. Thepipe 22 is-provided with openings similar to the openings 13 in pipe 12.The other end of the pipe 22 is connected by a pipe 25 to a hot watermain 26 through which the hot water is conducted to any desiredapparatus, such as laundry machines, by which it is used.

The pump 18 may be driven in any suitable manner as by a motor 30connected to a suitable source of supply by wires 31 and '32. The motormain or wire 31 has incorporated therein a pair of switch contacts 33and 34 controlled by a switch 35 in a manner hereinafter described.

By introducing the cold water or other liquid from the supply main intothe lower portion of the reservoir through a dilfuser and introducingthe hot water into the reservoir in the upper portion thereof through adiffuser there will be a more definite line of demarcation between thecold water level in the tank and the hot water level. In other words, adefinite body of cold water will be disposed in the lower portion of thetank and a definite body of hot water will be disposed in the upperportion thereof. The location of this line of demarcation will depend onthe rate of withdrawal of the hot water from the tank. If less water iswithdrawn than is introduced into the tank, the line between the hot andcold water .will be lowered and if more hot water is withdrawn than isdeposited in the reservoir, the line between the hot and cold' waterwill rise.

In order to prevent a greater accumulation of hot water than is requiredfor the needs of the system, thermostatic control means is providedadjacent the lower end of thetank and this control means effects theshutting down of the pump and the shutting off from the heater of thesupply of heating medium.

Heat and Zigm'd control'mecimnism.

connected to a rod or stem 41 of a slide valve 42 disposed in a valvecasing 43. The movement of the valve in one direction is controlled by aset screw 44 mounted in the outer end of the casing 43. A pipe 45 ofrelatively small diameter is connected at one end to the cold watersupply main 11 and at the othe'rend as shown'at 46 to the valvecas ing43.

A pipe 48 has a bifurcated lower end as shown at 49 and 50 connected tothe casing 43, the opposite end of the pipe 48 being connected to thecasing 55 of a pressure control device. The valve 42 has a port 56extending therethrough and adapted to establish communication betweenthe end 46 ofthe pipe 45 and the branch 50 of the pipe 48 when the valveis in the position shown in Fig. 3. .Whenthe valve is shifted to itsother position, or to the right in- Fig. 3, the valve port 56establishes communication between the branch 49 of the pipe 48 and adrip pipe 57 connected to the bottom of the casing 43.

The pressure control device may be of any suitable construction and asshown in the drawings may have a diaphragm 60 positioned between the twohalves 61 and 62 of the casing 55. A stem or post 64 is connected to thediaphragm and has secured thereto a laterally extending arm 65 to whichis secured a switch .35 adapted to close the circuit through thecontacts 33 and 34. A spring '67 may be positioned below the switch 35to exert .an upward pressure thereon. The

medium, it Will be understood that any other desired heating medium maybe utilized. For instance, the heater 20 may be electrically heated andthe electric circuit for the heater could be controlled by the stem orrod 64. Fig. 5 illustrates one construction suitable for the valve 70and in this figure a valve casing 76 is shown having a passage ,7 4leading from a chamber which communicates with the pipe 72 to a chamberwhich communicates with a pipe 71. The passage 74 is controlled by avalve 73 carried by the rod 564.

If desired, instead of conducting the hot water from the pipe 25 throughpipe 26 to the apparatus in which it is to be utilized, the water may beconducted to a tank 75 having "a float 76 connected by a rod 77 and link78 to-a valve79 in the inlet pipe 80. The outlet pipe 81 may beconnected through a swivel connection 82 to a pipe 83 controlled. by afloat 84. The pipe 81 will in this instance be connected to the hotwater mains for conducting the hot water or other liquid to theutilized.

Operation.

The system above described operates in the following manner. {001d wateror other liquid to be heated is conducted to the reservoir or storagetank through the diffuser 12 located in the lower portion of thereservoir and is conducted from the reservoir through the pipe'1-5 andpump 18 to the heater 20.

'From the heater, the hot water passes'into the upper portion of thereservoir through the diffuser 22 and passes from the. reservoir throughthe pipe 25 to the hot water main 26.

The output of the pump is so proportioned and adjustedthat the pump willhandle an amount of water approximately equal to the average demand andif water is drawn at a rate equalling the average demand, the hot waterentering the storage tank or reservoir will pass directly into the hotwater supply line or main and thus to the point of use.

If the demand should drop below the average, the difference between theimmediate demand and the average demand will remain in the storage tank.On the other hand, if the demand should be greater than the averagethere will be drawn from the storage tank or reservoir the amount of hotwater equal to the difference between the pump out- "surging 0rdisturbance ofthe water in the tank. As explained in the abovespecification, there is a definite line' of demarcation between the hotwater in the upper portion of the tank and the cold water entering andlocated in the bottom. portion of the tank, This is essential since thepump should re ceive thecold water at a constant temperature, sothat itis delivered to the upper portion of the tank at a' constanttemperature.

If less hot water is withdrawn from the tank than is introduced therein,the line of demarcation will be lowered and if it is lowered to asufficient extent, the thermostatic control device 40 will shift thevalve 42 to the position shown in Fig. 3. 'When the valve has been soshifted, the pressure from the main 11 will be communicated through the'pipe45, branch and pipe 48 to the pressure control device 55, therebypressing the diaphragm 60, closing the steam control valve and openingthe motor control switch 66, thus stopping the motor and the pump.

, water or other liquids.

Although one arrangement of apparatus.

When the heating system has been thus shut down, a further withdrawal ofthe hot water from the reservoir will cause the line of demarcation orseparation betweenthe hot and cold water to rise and the thermostatic.-control device 40 will shift to the right, viewing Fig. 3, thus shuttingoff the pressurefrom the'pipe 48 and connecting this pipe through thebranch 49 and valve port 56' to the drip pipe 57. .When the pressure onthe diaphragm 6' is released, the diaphragm will be shifted to itsnormal position, the steam valve 7 0 will be opened by spring 68 and themotor switch 35 will be closed by the spring 67, thus placing the heateragain in operation.

Attention is called to the fact that the .hot water system describedfunctions to dethe thermostatic device.

. The temperature of the hot water output may be predetermined and iscontrolled by adjustment of: c

1. The output of the'pump, either by throttling or by varying the speedof the pump.

2. The quantity of steam admitted to the heater, or condenser.

3. The pressure of steam admitted to the heater or condenser. v

4. By the amount of heating surface incorporated in the instantaneousheater or condenser.

5. By the temperature of the cold water pp y v The temperature controlof the hot water is, therefore, inherent in the system and the systemdescribed gives a constant steam load.

From the foregoing specification it will be evident that the systemdescribed will efficiently perform the desired obj ects' and willprovide the necessary and required amount of hot water at a minimumcost. The system, moreover, is particularly adapted for use inindustrial plants and its use will cut down to a material degree thecost of supplying ho for carrying out the system has been par--ticularly shown and described, it will be understood that the inventionis capable of modification and that changes in the construction and inthe arrangement of the various cooperating parts may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit'or scope of the invention, as expressed in thefollowing claims.

What I claim is:

1. A heating system comprising a reserr 4 within the tank, a connectionbetween the exit end of the supply main and the heater, and a hot liquidmain connected to the heater and extending into and through the upperportion of the tank and communicating with v tending into and throughthe upper portion of said upper portion.

2. A heating system comprising a reser- 5 voir tank, a heater, apressure supply main extending into and through the bottom portion ofthe tank and having openings therein within the tank, a connectionbetween the exit e d of the supply main and the. heater, a hot liquidmain connected to the heater and extending into and through the upperportion of the tank and communicating with said upper portion, and apump in theconnection between the heater intake and the exit end of thesupply main.

\ 3. A heating-system comprising a reservoir tank, a heater,'a pressuresupply main extending into and through the bottom portion of the tankand having openings therein within the tank, a connection between theexit end of the supply main and the heater, a hot liquid main connectedto the heater and extending into and through the upper portion of,. thetank and communicating with 5 said upper portion, a pump in theconnection between the heater intake and the exit end of the supplymain, and thermostatically controlled means for shutting down the pumpand the heater when the hot liquid in the tank approaches the bottom ofthe tank.

7 4. A heating system comprising a reservoir tank, a heater, a pressuresupply main extending into and through the bottom portion of the tankand having openings therein with- 35 in the tank, a connection betweenthe exit end of the supply-main and the heater, a hot liquid mainconnected to the heater and extending into and through the upper'portionof the tank and communicating with said upper portion, andthermostatically controlled -means for cutting "off the supply of coldliquid from the pressure main and tank to the heater when the hot liquidin the tank approaches the bottom of the tank. 7 5. A heating systemcomprising a reservoir tank, a heater, a pressure supply main extendinginto and through the bottom portion of the tank and having openingstherein within the tank, aconnection between the exit end of the supplymain and the heater, a hot liquid main connected to the heater andextending into and through the upper portion of the tank andcommunicating with said upper portion, a pump in the connection betweenthe heater intake and the exit end of the sup-- ply main, andthermostatically controlled means for shutting down the pump when theline of demarcation between the hot and cold liquid in the tank reachesa predetermined Y eve k a 6. A heating system comprising. a reservoirtank, a heater, a pressure supply main extending into and through thebottom portion of thetank and having openings therein within the tank,a' connection between the exit end of the supply main and the heater, ahot liquid main connected tothe heater and exthe tank and communicatingwith said upper portion, a pump in the connection between the heaterintake and the exit end of'the supply "of the tank, said main havinggraduated difiusing openings Within said tank, the opening being smallerat the entrance end of the main and larger at the exit end thereof, a

connection between the exit end of the supply main and the heater, and ahot water main connected to the heater and extending into and throughthe upper portion of the tank and communicating with said upper portion,and a pumpin the connection between the heater intake and the exit endof the supply main.-

8. A liquid heating system comprising a closed reservoir tank, a heater,means for withdrawing liquid from the lower portion of the tank, passingit through the heater-and returning the liquid in heated state th theupper portion of the tank, while maintaining a sharp line of demarcationbetween the heated and unheated liquid in said tank and also maintainingthe heated liquid of substantially uniform temperature throughout itsdepth, a pressure supply means delivering into the lower portion ofthetank arranged to keep th tank, the heater and said connections fillewith liquid andan outlet main arranged to receive liquid from the upperportion-of the tank. 9. A liquid heating system comprising a reservoirtank, a'heater', means forw'ithdrawing liquid from the lower portion ofthe tank, passing it through the heaterand returning the' liquid inheated state to the upper portion of-the tank, while maintaining a sharpline of demarcation between the heated and unheated liquid in saidtankand also mainuniform temperature throughout its depth,

'avpressure supply means delivering into the lower portion of thetankarranged to keep the tank, the heater and said connections filled withliquid, an outlet main arranged to receive liquid from" the upperportion of the the liquid in the tank.

10. A liquidheating system comprising a tank, and means for preventingagitationof reservoir tank, a heater, a connection between 4 the lowerand upper portions ofthe tank and passing through said heater, a pump insaid connection, a ressure supply meansdeliveringinto the ower portionof the tank arreaches a predetermined level.

11. A liquid heating system comprising a closed reservoir tank, meansfor keeping said system filled with liquid under pressure, said.

means comprising a liquid pressure supply pipe communicating with thelower portion of said tank, a heater for heating the liquid, means forpositively drawing liquid from the bottom of the tank, passing throughsaid heater and delivering it to the top thereof, while maintaining asharp line of demarcation between the heated and. unheated liquid insaid tank, and also maintaining the heated liquid of substantiallyuniform temperature throughout its depth, and an outlet pipe leadingfrom the top of the tank. i

12. The method of heating which comprises supplying the liquid to astorage space, removing same for'heating and returning to said space,and propelling said liquid at a uniform rate, said rate beingpredetermined to equal the average of a variable rate of withdrawal ofthe heated liquid, and causing the uniformly propelled liquid to absorbheat at a predetermined rate during said heating.

13. The method of heating, which comprises supplying a liquid to astorage space under pressure, positively removing same for heating andreturning to said space and propelling said liquid at a uniform ra'teregardless of initial pressure, 'said rate being predetermined to equalthe average of a variablerate of withdrawal of-the heated liquid, andcausing the uniformly propelled liquid to absorb heat at a predeterminedrate during said heating.

14:. The method of heating which comprises propelling a liquid at auniform rate regardless of initial pressure, said rate beingpredetermined to equal the average of a variable rate of withdrawal ofthe heated'liquid,

causing the uniformly propelled liquid to absorb heat at a predeterminedrate, and interposing a body of liquid between the supply of liquid andthe point of withdrawal, said body being of sufiicient size tocompensate for temporary differences between the rate of withdrawal andthe rate of heating.

15. The method of heating which comprises the provision of twointerconnected columns of liquid, one of which is of suflicient size toserve as a heat accumulator, connecting the lower ends ofsaid columnswith a source of supply and the upper ends thereof with an outlet,propelling the liquid in the other of said columns at a uniform rateregardless of initial pressure, said rate being predetermined to equalthe average of a variable rate of withdrawal of the heated liquid andcausing the uniformly propelled liquid to absorb heat at a predeterminedrate.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 15th day ofFebruary, 1927.

LEWIS L. RANSOM.

